Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Protest rally against Chris Matthews in DC tomorrow

I just received this e-mail from the National Women's Political Caucus:

I wanted to let you know that the National Women's Political Caucus is holding a rally tomorrow, January 17, 4:00pm outside of NBC News, 4001 Nebraska Ave NW (right off AU circle) to protest and object to Chris Matthews' sexist comments and behavior on "Hardball" and as a commentator on MSNBC.

For your information, I am attaching a press advisory and the letter that NWPC, NOW, Feminist Majority and Women's Media Center sent to Steve Capus, President of NBC.

Because the mission of the Caucus is to do everything we can to elect women to public office, we feel it is extremely important to call out sexism and sexist behavior on national television. We deserve better from a national television network.

We need bodies at our rally. I would be eternally grateful if you could help us get the word out about this rally. And, it would be great if you could attend yourself. The weather is supposed to be terrible. Call me crazy, but protesting sexist behavior in the sleet and snow is my idea of a good time.

Matthews has always been a misogynistic, loud-mouth bully. It's too bad he doesn't have the journalistic ability to focus on the issues and not just to driving his ratings. I believe the mainstream media has a serious conflict of interest as the celebrity anchors are paid handsomely by campaign contributions. Therefore, they do not cover the issues in the style of say, Bill Moyers or Amy Goodman, but create an atmosphere which necessitates more paid advertising thus enhancing their worth. A financial conflict of interest - should exclude them from covering politics in this way.